SH2

Src homology 2 domains

SMART accession number:

SM00252

Description:

Src homology 2 domains bind phosphotyrosine-containing polypeptides via 2 surface pockets. Specificity is provided via interaction with residues that are distinct from the phosphotyrosine. Only a single occurrence of a SH2 domain has been found in S. cerevisiae.

The Src homology 2 (SH2) domain is a protein domain of about 100 amino-acid residues first identified as a conserved sequence region between the oncoproteins Src and Fps [(PUBMED:3025655)]. Similar sequences were later found in many other intracellular signal-transducing proteins [(PUBMED:1377638)]. SH2 domains function as regulatory modules of intracellular signalling cascades by interacting with high affinity to phosphotyrosine-containing target peptides in a sequence-specific, SH2 domains recognise between 3-6 residues C-terminal to the phosphorylated tyrosine in a fashion that differs from one SH2 domain to another, and strictly phosphorylation-dependent manner [(PUBMED:7883800), (PUBMED:15335710), (PUBMED:14731533), (PUBMED:7531822)]. They are found in a wide variety of protein contexts e.g., in association with catalytic domains of phospholipase Cy (PLCy) and the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases; within structural proteins such as fodrin and tensin; and in a group of small adaptor molecules, i.e Crk and Nck. The domains are frequently found as repeats in a single protein sequence and will then often bind both mono- and di-phosphorylated substrates.

The structure of the SH2 domain belongs to the alpha+beta class, its overall shape forming a compact flattened hemisphere. The core structural elements comprise a central hydrophobic anti-parallel beta-sheet, flanked by 2 short alpha-helices. The loop between strands 2 and 3 provides many of the binding interactions with the phosphate group of its phosphopeptide ligand, and is hence designated the phosphate binding loop, the phosphorylated ligand binds perpendicular to the beta-sheet and typically interacts with the phosphate binding loop and a hydrophobic binding pocket that interacts with a pY+3 side chain. The N- and C-termini of the domain are close together in space and on the opposite face from the phosphopeptide binding surface and it has been speculated that this has facilitated their integration into surface-exposed regions of host proteins [(PUBMED:11911873)].

Crystal structure of the ARF-GAP domain and ankyrin repeats of PYK2-associated protein beta.

EMBO J. 1999; 18: 6890-8

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ADP ribosylation factors (ARFs), which are members of the Ras superfamily of GTP-binding proteins, are critical components of vesicular trafficking pathways in eukaryotes. Like Ras, ARFs are active in their GTP-bound form, and their duration of activity is controlled by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which assist ARFs in hydrolyzing GTP to GDP. PAPbeta, a protein that binds to and is phosphorylated by the non-receptor tyrosine kinase PYK2, contains several modular signaling domains including a pleckstrin homology domain, an SH3 domain, ankyrin repeats and an ARF-GAP domain. Sequences of ARF-GAP domains show no recognizable similarity to those of other GAPs, and contain a characteristic Cys-X(2)-Cys-X(16-17)-Cys-X(2)-Cys motif. The crystal structure of the PAPbeta ARF-GAP domain and the C-terminal ankyrin repeats has been determined at 2.1 A resolution. The ARF-GAP domain comprises a central three-stranded beta-sheet flanked by five alpha-helices, with a Zn(2+) ion coordinated by the four cysteines of the cysteine-rich motif. Four ankyrin repeats are also present, the first two of which form an extensive interface with the ARF-GAP domain. An invariant arginine and several nearby hydrophobic residues are solvent exposed and are predicted to be the site of interaction with ARFs. Site-directed mutagenesis of these residues confirms their importance in ARF-GAP activity.

The sterile alpha motif (SAM) is a protein interaction domain of around 70 amino acids present predominantly in the N- and C-termini of more than 60 diverse proteins that participate in signal transduction and transcriptional repression. SAM domains have been shown to homo- and hetero-oligomerize and to mediate specific protein-protein interactions. A highly conserved subclass of SAM domains is present at the intracellular C-terminus of more than 40 Eph receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved in the control of axonal pathfinding upon ephrin-induced oligomerization and activation in the event of cell-cell contacts. These SAM domains appear to participate in downstream signaling events via interactions with cytosolic proteins. We determined the solution structure of the EphB2 receptor SAM domain and studied its association behavior. The structure consists of five helices forming a compact structure without binding pockets or exposed conserved aromatic residues. Concentration-dependent chemical shift changes of NMR signals reveal two distinct well-separated areas on the domains' surface sensitive to the formation of homotypic oligomers in solution. These findings are supported by analytical ultracentrifugation studies. The conserved Tyr932, which was reported to be essential for the interaction with SH2 domains after phosphorylation, is buried in the hydrophobic core of the structure. The weak capability of the isolated EphB2 receptor SAM domain to form oligomers is supposed to be relevant in vivo when the driving force of ligand binding induces receptor oligomerization. A formation of SAM tetramers is thought to provide an appropriate contact area for the binding of a low-molecular-weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase and to initiate further downstream responses.

The crystal structure of an Eph receptor SAM domain reveals a mechanism for modular dimerization.

Nat Struct Biol. 1999; 6: 44-9

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The sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain is a novel protein module of approximately 70 amino acids that is found in a variety of signaling molecules including tyrosine and serine/threonine protein kinases, cytoplasmic scaffolding and adaptor proteins, regulators of lipid metabolism, and GTPases as well as members of the ETS family of transcription factors. The SAM domain can potentially function as a protein interaction module through the ability to homo- and hetero-oligomerize with other SAM domains. This functional property elicits the oncogenic activation of chimeric proteins arising from translocation of the SAM domain of TEL to coding regions of the betaPDGF receptor, Abl, JAK2 protein kinase and the AML1 transcription factor. Here we describe the 2.0 A X-ray crystal structure of a SAM domain homodimer from the intracellular region of the EphA4 receptor tyrosine kinase. The structure reveals a mode of dimerization that we predict is shared amongst the SAM domains of the Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and possibly other SAM domain containing proteins. These data indicate a mechanism through which an independently folding protein module can form homophilic complexes that regulate signaling events at the membrane and in the nucleus.

The sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain is a protein interaction module that is present in diverse signal-transducing proteins. SAM domains are known to form homo- and hetero-oligomers. The crystal structure of the SAM domain from an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase, EphB2, reveals two large interfaces. In one interface, adjacent monomers exchange amino-terminal peptides that insert into a hydrophobic groove on each neighbor. A second interface is composed of the carboxyl-terminal helix and a nearby loop. A possible oligomer, constructed from a combination of these binding modes, may provide a platform for the formation of larger protein complexes.

The crystal structure of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 reveals the mechanism of auto-inhibition of phosphatase activity by its SH2 domains. Phosphotyrosine peptide stimulation of the phosphatase activity, resulting from peptide binding to the N-terminal SH2 domain, is linked to conformational changes within the protein, including an unprecedented allosteric transition of the N-terminal SH2 domain.

Solution structure of the glycosylated second type 2 module of fibronectin.

J Mol Biol. 1998; 276: 177-87

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Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that plays a role in a number of physiological processes involving cell adhesion and migration. The modules of the fibronectin monomer are organized into proteolytically resistant domains that in isolation retain their affinity for various ligands. The tertiary structure of the glycosylated second type 2 module (2F2) from the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin was determined by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and simulated annealing. The structure is well defined with an overall fold typical of F2 modules, showing two double-stranded antiparallel beta-sheets and a partially solvent-exposed hydrophobic cluster. An N-terminal beta-sheet, that was not present in previously determined F2 module structures, may be important for defining the relative orientation of adjacent F2 modules in fibronectin. This is the first three-dimensional structure of a glycosylated module of fibronectin, and provides insight into the possible role of the glycosylation in protein stability, protease resistance and modulation of collagen binding. Based on the structures of the isolated modules, models for the 1F22F2 pair were generated by randomly changing the orientation of the linker peptide between the modules. The models suggest that the two putative collagen binding sites in the pair form discrete binding sites, rather than combining to form a single binding site.

Recent structures of Src tyrosine kinases reveal complex mechanisms for regulation of enzymatic activity. The regulatory SH3 and SH2 domains bind to the back of the catalytic kinase domain via a linker region that joins the SH2 domain to the catalytic domain. Members of a subgroup of the Src kinase family show distinct features in this linker and in the loops that interact with it. Hydrophobicity of key residues in this region is important for intramolecular regulation. The kinases Abl, Btk and Csk seem to have the same molecular architecture as Src. Structural comparisons between serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases indicate a specific twisting mechanism involving the N- and C-terminal lobes of the catalytic domain. This motion could provide insights into the various mechanisms used to regulate kinase activity.

The crystal structure of HIV-1 Nef protein bound to the Fyn kinase SH3 domain suggests a role for this complex in altered T cell receptor signaling.

Structure. 1997; 5: 1361-72

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BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Nef protein accelerates virulent progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by its interaction with specific cellular proteins involved in signal transduction and host cell activation. Nef has been shown to bind specifically to a subset of the Src family of kinases. The structures of free Nef and Nef bound to Src homology region 3 (SH3) domain are important for the elucidation of how the affinity and specificity for the Src kinase family SH3 domains are achieved, and also for the development of potential drugs and vaccines against AIDS. RESULTS: We have determined the crystal structures of the conserved core of HIV-1 Nef protein alone and in complex with the wild-type SH3 domain of the p59fyn protein tyrosine kinase (Fyn), at 3.0 A resolution. Comparison of the bound and unbound Nef structures revealed that a proline-rich motif (Pro-x-x-Pro), which is implicated in SH3 binding, is partially disordered in the absence of the binding partner; this motif only fully adopts a left-handed polyproline type II helix conformation upon complex formation with the Fyn SH3 domain. In addition, the structures show how an arginine residue (Arg77) of Nef interacts with Asp 100 of the so-called RT loop within the Fyn SH3 domain, and triggers a hydrogen-bond rearrangement which allows the loop to adapt to complement the Nef surface. The Arg96 residue of the Fyn SH3 domain is specifically accommodated in the same hydrophobic pocket of Nef as the isoleucine residue of a previously described Fyn SH3 (Arg96-->lle) mutant that binds to Nef with higher affinity than the wild type. CONCLUSIONS: The three-dimensional structures support evidence that the Nef-Fyn complex forms in vivo and may have a crucial role in the T cell perturbating action of Nef by altering T cell receptor signaling. The structures of bound and unbound Nef reveal that the multivalency of SH3 binding may be achieved by a ligand induced flexibility in the RT loop. The structures suggest possible targets for the design of inhibitors which specifically block Nef-SH3 interactions.

Members of the Rho family of small G proteins transduce signals from plasma-membrane receptors and control cell adhesion, motility and shape by actin cytoskeleton formation. They also activate other kinase cascades. Like all other GTPases, Rho proteins act as molecular switches, with an active GTP-bound form and an inactive GDP-bound form. The active conformation is promoted by guanine-nucleotide exchange factors, and the inactive state by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) which stimulate the intrinsic GTPase activity of small G proteins. Rho-specific GAP domains are found in a wide variety of large, multi-functional proteins. Here we report the crystal structure of an active 242-residue C-terminal fragment of human p50rhoGAP. The structure is an unusual arrangement of nine alpha-helices, the core of which includes a four-helix bundle. Residues conserved across the rhoGAP family are largely confined to one face of this bundle, which may be an interaction site for target G proteins. In particular, we propose that Arg 85 and Asn 194 are involved in binding G proteins and enhancing GTPase activity.

Proteins of the cysteine-rich protein (CRP) family (CRP1, CRP2, and CRP3) are implicated in diverse processes linked to cellular differentiation and growth control. CRP proteins contain two LIM domains, each formed by two zinc-binding modules of the CCHC and CCCC type, respectively. The solution structure of the carboxyl-terminal LIM domain (LIM2) from recombinant quail CRP2 was determined by multidimensional homo- and heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The folding topology retains both independent zinc binding modules (CCHC and CCCC). Each module consists of two orthogonally arranged antiparallel beta-sheets, and the carboxyl-terminal CCCC module is terminated by an alpha-helix. 15N magnetic relaxation data indicate that the modules differ in terms of conformational flexibility. They pack together via a hydrophobic core region. In addition, Arg122 in the CCHC module and Glu155 in the CCCC module are linked by an intermodular hydrogen bond and/or salt bridge. These residues are absolutely conserved in the CRP family of LIM proteins, and their interaction might contribute to the relative orientation of the two zinc-binding modules in CRP LIM2 domains. The global fold of quail CRP2 LIM2 is very similar to that of the carboxyl-terminal LIM domain of the related but functionally distinct CRP family member CRP1, analyzed recently. The carboxyl-terminal CCCC module is structurally related to the DNA-binding domain of the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1. In the two zinc-binding modules of quail CRP2 LIM2, flexible loop regions made up of conserved amino acid residues are located on the same side of the LIM2 domain and may cooperate in macromolecular recognition.

A characteristic feature of cellular signal transduction pathways in eukaryotes is the separation of catalysis from target recognition. Several modular domains that recognize short peptide sequences and target signaling proteins to these sequences have been identified. The structural bases of the specificities of recognition by SH2, SH3, and PTB domains have been elucidated by X-ray crystallography and NMR, and these results are reviewed here. In addition, the mechanism of cooperative interactions between these domains is discussed.

The intracellular domain of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75ICD) lacks catalytic activity but contains a motif similar to death domains found in the cytoplasmic regions of members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and their downstream targets. Although some aspects of the signaling pathways downstream of p75 have been elucidated recently, mechanisms of receptor activation and proximal signaling events are unknown. Here we report the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of the 145 residue long p75ICD. The death domain of p75ICD consists of two perpendicular sets of three helices packed into a globular structure. The polypeptide segment connecting the transmembrane and death domains as well as the serine/threonine-rich C-terminal end are highly flexible in p75ICD. Unlike the death domains involved in signaling by the TNF receptor and Fas, p75ICD does not self-associate in solution. A surface area devoid of charged residues in the p75ICD death domain may indicate a potential site of interaction with downstream targets.

The crystal structure of the haematopoietic cell kinase Hck has been determined at 2.6/2.9 A resolution. Inhibition of enzymatic activity is a consequence of intramolecular interactions of the enzyme's Src-homology domains SH2 and SH3, with concomitant displacement of elements of the catalytic domain. The conformation of the active site has similarities with that of inactive cyclin-dependent protein kinases.

The structure of a large fragment of the c-Src tyrosine kinase, comprising the regulatory and kinase domains and the carboxy-terminal tall, has been determined at 1.7 A resolution in a closed, inactive state. Interactions among domains, stabilized by binding of the phosphorylated tail to the SH2 domain, lock the molecule in a conformation that simultaneously disrupts the kinase active site and sequesters the binding surfaces of the SH2 and SH3 domains. The structure shows how appropriate cellular signals, or transforming mutations in v-Src, could break these interactions to produce an open, active kinase.

Crystal structure of the conserved core of HIV-1 Nef complexed with a Src family SH3 domain.

Cell. 1996; 85: 931-42

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The crystal structure of the conserved core of HIV-1 Nef has been determined in complex with the SH3 domain of a mutant Fyn tyrosine kinase (a single amino acid substitution, Arg-96 to isoleucine), to which Nef binds tightly. The conserved PxxP sequence motif of Nef, known to be important for optimal viral replication, is part of a polyproline type II helix that engages the SH3 domain in a manner resembling closely the interaction of isolated peptides with SH3 domains. The Nef-SH3 structure also reveals how high affinity and specificity in the SH3 interaction is achieved by the presentation of the PxxP motif within the context of the folded structure of Nef.

The three-dimensional solution structure of the SH2 domain from p55blk kinase.

Biochemistry. 1996; 35: 6201-11

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Signal transduction in B cells is mediated, in part, by the interaction of the cytoplasmic components of the antigen receptor complex and various members of the src family tyrosine kinases. Key to this process appears to be the interaction of the tyrosine kinase SH2 domains with the tyrosine-phosphorylated cytoplasmic domain of Ig-alpha, a disulfide-bonded heterodimeric (with Ig-beta or Ig-gamma) transmembrane protein that noncovalently associates with the antigen receptor immunoglobin chains. In addition to binding to the phosphorylated cytoplasmic domains of Ig-alpha and Ig-beta, blk and fyn(T), two members of the src family kinases, have been shown to bind overlapping but distinct sets of phosphoproteins [Malek & Desiderio (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268. 22557-22565]. A comparison of their three-dimensional structures may elucidate the apparently subtle differences required for phosphoprotein discrimination. To begin characterizing the blk/fyn/phosphosphoprotein interactions, we have determined the three-dimensional solution structure of the SH2 domain of blk kinase by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 1H, 13C, and 15N resonances of the SH2 domain of blk kinase were assigned by analysis of multidimensional, double- and triple-resonance NMR experiments. Twenty structures of the blk SH2 domain were refined with the program X-PLOR using a total of 2080 experimentally derived conformational restraints. The structures converged to a root-mean-squared (rms) distance deviation of 0.51 and 0.95 A for the backbone atoms and for the non-hydrogen atoms, respectively. The blk SH2 domain adopts the prototypical SH2 fold. Structurally, blk SH2 is most similar to the crystal structure of the v-src SH2 domain [Waksman et al. (1993) Nature 358.646-653] and superimposes on the crystal structure with an rmsd of 1.52 A for the backbone atoms. The largest deviations occur in the four loops interconnecting beta-strands A-E, which are the least well-defined regions in the NMR structure. Exclusion of these loops lowers this rmsd to 0.82 A. The conformation of the BC loop in the blk SH2 domain is similar to the open conformation in the apo lck SH2 domain, suggesting that, like the lck SH2 domain, the blk SH2 domain may have a gated phosphopeptide binding site. Finally, it is proposed that the amino acid substitution of Lys 88 (blk) for Glu [fyn(T)] is important for the observed differences in specificity between blk and fyn(T) SH2 domains.

A family of NMR solution structures of the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) SH2 domain has been determined by heteronuclear multidimensional NMR. Proton, nitrogen, and carbon chemical shift assignments have been made for the SH2 domain of Grb2. Assignments were made from a combination of homonuclear two-dimensional and 15N- and 13C-edited three-dimensional spectra at pH 6.2 and 298 K. Structure-induced proton and carbon secondary shifts were calculated and used to facilitate the spectral assignment process. NOE, scalar coupling, secondary chemical shift, and amide proton exchange data were used to characterize the secondary structural elements and hydrogen-bonding network in the Grb2 SH2 domain. The three-dimensional structure of the Grb2 SH2 domain was calculated using 1112 restraints obtained from NOE, coupling constant, and amide proton exchange data. The rmsd for the 24 calculated structures to the mean structure of the Grb2 SH2 domain was 0.75 A for backbone and 1.28 A for all heavy atoms. The three-dimensional fold of the Grb2 SH2 domain is similar to that observed for other SH2 domains and consists of two alpha-helical segments and eight beta-strands, six strands that make up two contiguous antiparallel beta-sheets, and two strands that form two short parallel beta-sheets. The structure of the phosphotyrosine binding pocket of Grb2 is similar to that observed for other SH2 domains. The hydrophobic binding pocket of Grb2 is similar to that observed for Src with the exception that tryptophan 121 of Grb2 occupies part of the pY+3 binding pocket. Structural implications for the Grb2 SH2 domain selectivity at the pY+2 and pY+3 sites are discussed.

Metal binding properties and secondary structure of the zinc-binding domain of Nup475.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996; 93: 13754-9

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Nup475 is a nuclear zinc-binding protein of unknown function that is induced in mammalian cells by growth factor mitogens. Nup475 contains two tandemly repeated sequences YKTELCX8CX5CX3H (Cys3His repeats) that are thought to be zinc-bindin domains. Similar sequences have been found in a number of proteins from various species of eukaryotes. To determine the metal binding properties and secondary structure of the putative zinc-binding domains of Nup475, we have used synthetic or recombinant peptides that contain one or two domain sequences. The peptide with a single domain bound 1.0 +/- 0.1 equivalents of Co2+, and the peptide with two domains bound 1.7 +/- 0.4 equivalents of Co2+. Both peptides bound Co2+ and Zn2+ with affinities similar to those of classical zinc finger peptides. In each case, the Co2+ complex exhibited strong d-d transitions characteristic of tetrahedral coordination. For structural studies by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we used a more soluble two-domain peptide that had a single amino acid substitution in a nonconserved amino acid residue in the second Cys3His repeat. The mutant peptide unexpectedly showed loss of one of its metal binding sites and displayed ordered structure for only the first Cys3His sequence. On the basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance data, we propose a structure for the Nup475 metal-binding domain in which the zinc ion is coordinated by the conserved cysteines and histidine, and the conserved YKTEL motif forms a parallel sheet-like structure with the C terminus of this domain. This structure is unlike that of any previously described class of metal binding domain.

The crystal structures of a cysteine-215-->serine mutant of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B complexed with high-affinity peptide substrates corresponding to an autophosphorylation site of the epidermal growth factor receptor were determined. Peptide binding to the protein phosphatase was accompanied by a conformational change of a surface loop that created a phosphotyrosine recognition pocket and induced a catalytically competent form of the enzyme. The phosphotyrosine side chain is buried within the period and anchors the peptide substrate to its binding site. Hydrogen bonds between peptide main-chain atoms and the protein contribute to binding affinity, and specific interactions of acidic residues of the peptide with basic residues on the surface of the enzyme confer sequence specificity.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains mediate assembly of signaling complexes by binding specifically to tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. A phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain has been identified which also binds specifically to tyrosine-phosphorylated targets, but is structurally different from SH2 domains. Expression cloning was used to identify targets of PTB domains. PTB domains bound to phosphotyrosine within a sequence motif, asparagine-X1-X2-phosphotyrosine (where X represents any amino acid), that is found in many signaling proteins and is not recognized by SH2 domains. Mutational studies indicated that high affinity binding of PTB domains may require a specific conformation of the motif.

The mammalian growth factor receptor-binding protein Grb2 is an adaptor that mediates activation of guanine nucleotide exchange on Ras. Grb2 binds to the receptor through its SH2 domain and to the carboxyl-terminal domain of Son of sevenless through its two SH3 domains. It is thus a key element in the signal transduction pathway. The crystal structure of Grb2 was determined to 3.1 angstrom resolution. The asymmetric unit is composed of an embedded dimer. The interlaced junctions between the SH2 and SH3 domains bring the two adjacent faces of the SH3 domains in van der Waals contact but leave room for the binding of proline-rich peptides.

Crystal structure of the SH2 domain from the adaptor protein SHC: a model for peptide binding based on X-ray and NMR data.

J Mol Biol. 1995; 254: 86-95

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Src homology 2 domains (SH2) are protein molecules found within a wide variety of cytoplasmic signalling molecules that bind with high affinity to phosphotyrosyl (pY)-containing protein sequences. We report here for crystal structure of the SH2 domain from the adaptor protein SHC (Shc), which has been refined by restrained least-squares methods to an R-factor of 17.3% to 2.7 A. The overall Shc architecture is essentially similar to that determined in other SH2 domains but it shows significant differences in a number of loops, thus providing a molecular surface with no obvious secondary pocket. Based on the knowledge of the crystal structure of the protein a model for a low affinity Shc-bound peptide has been generated from nuclear magnetic resonance data in solution using transferred nuclear Overhauser enhancements as intramolecular distance restraints. The model shows that the tyrosine moiety binds Shc in a rather similar way to that observed for other SH2-peptide complexes, but that the residue in position +3 does not seem to make specific contact with the protein. An intermolecular crystallographic interaction occurs between the pY-binding site and the C-terminal residues of a symmetry-related molecule. This crystal packing interaction suggests how inhibitory regulation could play a role in SHC activity.

Solution structure of the C-terminal SH2 domain of the human tyrosine kinase Syk complexed with a phosphotyrosine pentapeptide.

Structure. 1995; 3: 1061-73

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BACKGROUND: Recruitment of the intracellular tyrosine kinase Syk to activated immune-response receptors is a critical early step in intracellular signaling. In mast cells, Syk specifically associates with doubly phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) that are found within the IgE receptor. The mechanism by which Syk recognizes these motifs is not fully understood. Both Syk SH2 (Src homology 2) domains are required for high-affinity binding to these motifs, but the C-terminal SH2 domain (Syk-C) can function independently and can bind, in isolation, to the tyrosine-phosphorylated IgE receptor in vitro. In order to improve understanding of the cellular function of Syk, we have determined the solution structure of Syk-C complexed with a phosphotyrosine peptide derived from the gamma subunit of the IgE receptor. RESULTS: The Syk-C:peptide structure is compared with liganded structures of both the SH2 domain of Src and the C-terminal SH2 domain of ZAP-70 (the 70 kDa zeta-associated protein). The topologies of these domains are similar, although significant differences occur in the loop regions. In the Syk-C structure, the phosphotyrosine and leucine residues of the peptide ligand interact with pockets on the protein, and the intervening residues are extended. CONCLUSIONS: Syk-C resembles other SH2 domains in its peptide-binding interactions and overall topology, a result that is consistent with its ability to function as an independent SH2 domain in vitro. This result suggests that Syk-C plays a unique role in the intact Syk protein. The determinants of the binding affinity and selectivity of Syk-C may reside in the least-conserved structural elements that comprise the phosphotyrosine- and leucine-binding sites. These structural features can be exploited for the design of Syk-selective SH2 antagonists for the treatment of allergic disorders and asthma.

Single copies of an approximately 65-70 residue domain are shown to be present in the sequences of 14 eukaryotic proteins, including yeast byr2, STE11, ste4, and STE50, which are essential participants in sexual differentiation. This domain, named SAM (sterile alpha motif), appears to participate in other developmental processes because it is also present in Drosophila polyhomeotic gene product and related homologues, which are thought to regulate determination of segmental specification in early embryogenesis. Its appearance in byr2 and STE11, which are MEK kinases, and in proteins containing pleckstrain homology, src homology 3, and discs-large homologous region domains, suggests possible participation in signal transduction pathways.

Specificity of the PTB domain of Shc for beta turn-forming pentapeptide motifs amino-terminal to phosphotyrosine.

J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 18205-8

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Shc phosphorylation in cells following growth factor, insulin, cytokine, and lymphocyte receptor activation leads to its association with Grb2 and activation of Ras. In addition to being a cytoplasmic substrate of tyrosine kinases, Shc contains an SH2 domain and a non-SH2 phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain. Here we show that the Shc PTB domain, but not the SH2 domain, binds with high affinity (ID50 approximately equal to 1 microM) to phosphopeptides corresponding to the sequence surrounding Tyr250 of the polyoma virus middle T (mT) antigen (LLSNPTpYSVMRSK). Truncation studies show that five residues amino-terminal to tyrosine are required for high affinity binding, whereas all residues carboxyl-terminal to tyrosine can be deleted without loss of affinity. Substitution studies show that tyrosine phosphorylation is required and residues at -5, -3, -2, and -1 positions relative to pTyr are important for this interaction. 1H NMR studies demonstrate that the phosphorylated mT antigen-derived sequence forms a stable beta turn in solution, and correlations between structure and function indicate that the beta turn is important for PTB domain recognition. These results show that PTB domains are functionally distinct from SH2 domains. Whereas SH2 domain binding specificity derives from peptide sequences carboxyl-terminal to phosphotyrosine, the Shc PTB domain gains specificity by interacting with beta turn-forming sequences amino-terminal to phosphotyrosine.

The PTB domain: a new protein module implicated in signal transduction.

Trends Biochem Sci. 1995; 20: 277-80

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Src homology 2 (SH2) domains have been identified in a large number of proteins involved in signal transduction downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. They allow cytoplasmic signalling proteins to bind specifically to other polypeptides that are phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to growth factor stimulation. A novel phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain has been identified recently in the amino terminus of Shc, an adaptor molecule that appears to be involved in Ras activation PTB domains are longer than SH2 domains, and recognize phosphotyrosine in the context of amino-terminal residues, in contrast to SH2 domains, which recognize them in the context of carboxy-terminal residues.

Structure of a 14-3-3 protein and implications for coordination of multiple signalling pathways.

Nature. 1995; 376: 188-91

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A broad range of organisms and tissues contain 14-3-3 proteins, which have been associated with many diverse functions including critical roles in signal transduction pathways, exocytosis and cell cycle regulation. We report here the crystal structure of the human T-cell 14-3-3 isoform (tau) dimer at 2.6 A resolution. Each monomer (Mr 28K) is composed of an unusual arrangement of nine antiparallel alpha-helices organized as two structural domains. The dimer creates a large, negatively charged channel approximately 35 A broad, 35 A wide and 20 A deep. Overall, invariant residues line the interior of this channel whereas the more variable residues are distributed on the outer surface. At the base of this channel is a 16-residue segment of 14-3-3 which has been implicated in the binding of 14-3-3 to protein kinase C.

Human pp60c-src is a cellular nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that participates in cytosolic signal transduction and has been implicated in the development of malignant tumors in the human breast and colon. Signal transduction is mediated by highly specific interactions between the SH2 domain and receptor phosphorylated tyrosine binding motifs. To elucidate the molecular conformation and interactions in solution, a family of highly resolved nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures was determined for the src SH2 domain complexed with a high-affinity phosphorylated pentapeptide, acetyl-p YEEIE-OH. The 23 structures, generated with a distance geometry (DG) and a dynamical simulated annealing (SA) procedure, satisfied 2072 experimental restraints derived from a variety of multifrequency/multidimensional and isotope-filtered NMR data. Superimposition of residues 143-245 upon the mean coordinate set yielded an atomic rmsd of 0.58 +/- 0.09 A for the N, C alpha, C' atoms and 1.04 +/- 0.08 for all the non-hydrogen atoms. Residues in the ordered secondary structure regions superimpose to 0.29 +/- 0.04 A for the N, C alpha, C' and 0.73 +/- 0.08 A for all the non-hydrogen atoms. The angular order parameter calculated for the phi, psi angles was > 0.9 for 81 of the 106 protein residues. The main protein conformational features are three antiparallel beta-strands that traverse a compact core with an alpha-helix on each side of the core near the N- and C-termini. The observed intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) from the pY, +1E, and +3I residues positioned the ligand in an extended conformation across the SH2 domain surface with the pY and +3I side chains inserted into the protein binding pockets. In general, the protein conformation is consistent with previously reported structures of different SH2 domain complexes determined by X-ray crystallography. However, inter- or intramolecular interactions involving the guanidinium side chains of the solvated R alpha A2 or the buried R beta B5 were not observed at pH = 5.5 or 7.0. If such interactions exist in solution, the absence of any confirming data probably arises from rapid exchange with solvent and/or undetermined dynamic components. Thus, the unrestrained R alpha A2 side chain did not show an amino-aromatic interaction or a hydrogen bond to the -1 carbonyl oxygen as observed in the crystal structures. This result is consistent with the solution structure of a different SH2 domain complex. A more detailed comparison between the crystal structure and the NMR-derived solution structures of the same src SH2 domain complex is presented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Structure and ligand recognition of the phosphotyrosine binding domain of Shc.

Nature. 1995; 378: 584-92

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The nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain of Shc complexed to a phosphopeptide reveals an alternative means of recognizing tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Unlike in SH2 domains, the phosphopeptide forms an antiparallel beta-strand with a beta-sheet of the protein, interacts with a hydrophobic pocket through the (pY-5) residue, and adopts a beta-turn. The PTB domain is structurally similar to pleckstrin homology domains (a beta-sandwich capped by an alpha-helix) and binds to acidic phospholipids, suggesting a possible role in membrane localization.

Solution structure of the Shc SH2 domain complexed with a tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide from the T-cell receptor.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995; 92: 7784-8

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She is a widely expressed adapter protein that plays an important role in signaling via a variety of cell surface receptors and has been implicated in coupling the stimulation of growth factor, cytokine, and antigen receptors to the Ras signaling pathway. She interacts with several tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors through its C-terminal SH2 domain, and one of the mechanisms of T-cell receptor-mediated Ras activation involves the interaction of the Shc SH2 domain with the tyrosine-phosphorylated zeta chain of the T-cell receptor. Here we describe a high-resolution NMR structure of the Shc SH2 domain complexed to a phosphopeptide (GHDGLpYQGLSTATK) corresponding to a portion of the zeta chain of the T-cell receptor. Although the overall architecture of the protein is similar to other SH2 domains, distinct structural differences were observed in the smaller beta-sheet, BG loop, (pY + 3) phosphopeptide-binding site, and relative position of the bound phosphopeptide.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a family of receptor-like and cytoplasmic signal transducing enzymes that catalyze the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues and are characterized by homologous catalytic domains. The crystal structure of a representative member of this family, the 37-kilodalton form (residues 1 to 321) of PTP1B, has been determined at 2.8 A resolution. The enzyme consists of a single domain with the catalytic site located at the base of a shallow cleft. The phosphate recognition site is created from a loop that is located at the amino-terminus of an alpha helix. This site is formed from an 11-residue sequence motif that is diagnostic of PTPs and the dual specificity phosphatases, and that contains the catalytically essential cysteine and arginine residues. The position of the invariant cysteine residue within the phosphate binding site is consistent with its role as a nucleophile in the catalytic reaction. The structure of PTP1B should serve as a model for other members of the PTP family and as a framework for understanding the mechanism of tyrosine dephosphorylation.

The crystal structure of human CskSH3: structural diversity near the RT-Src and n-Src loop.

FEBS Lett. 1994; 341: 79-85

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SH3 domains are modules occurring in diverse proteins, ranging from cytoskeletal proteins to signaling proteins, such as tyrosine kinases. The crystal structure of the SH3 domain of Csk (c-Src specific tyrosine kinase) has been refined at a resolution of 2.5 A, with an R-factor of 22.4%. The structure is very similar to the FynSH3 crystal structure. When comparing CskSH3 and FynSH3 it is seen that the structural and charge differences of the RT-Src loop and the n-Src loop, near the conserved Trp47, correlate with different binding properties of these SH3 domains. The structure comparison suggests that those glycines and acid residues which are very well conserved in the SH3 sequences are important for the stability of the SH3 fold.

The porcine spasmolytic protein (pSP) is a 106-residue cell growth factor that typifies a family of eukaryotic proteins that contain at least one copy of an approximately 40-amino acid protein domain known as the trefoil motif. In fact, pSP contains two highly homologous trefoil domains. We have determined the complete three-dimensional solution structure of pSP by using a combination of two- and three-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy and distance geometry calculations. pSP is a relatively elongated molecule, consisting of two compact globular domains joined via a small interface. The protein's two trefoil domains adopt the same tertiary structure and contain a core C-terminal two-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, preceded by a 6-residue helix that packs against the N-terminal beta-strand. The remainder of the protein backbone is taken up by two short loops that lie on either side of the beta-hairpin and are linked by an extended region that wraps around the C-terminal beta-strand. The topology of the protein backbone observed for the trefoil domains in pSP represents an unusual polypeptide fold. A striking feature of both trefoil domains is a surface patch formed from five conserved residues that have no obvious structural role. The two patches are located at the far ends of the protein molecule, and we propose that these residues form at least part of the receptor binding site, or sites, on pSP.

Structure of the regulatory domains of the Src-family tyrosine kinase Lck.

Nature. 1994; 368: 764-9

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The kinase p56lck (Lck) is a T-lymphocyte-specific member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Members of the Src family each contain unique amino-terminal regions, followed by Src-homology domains SH3 and SH2, and a tyrosine kinase domain. SH3 and SH2 domains mediate critical protein interactions in many signal-transducing pathways. They are small, independently folded modules of about 60 and 100 residues, respectively, and they are often but not always found together in the same molecule. Like all nine Src-family kinases (reviewed in ref. 3), Lck is regulated by phosphorylation of a tyrosine in the short C-terminal tail of its catalytic domain. There is evidence that binding of the phosphorylated tail to the SH2 domain inhibits catalytic activity of the kinase domain and that the SH3 and SH2 domains may act together to effect this regulation. Here we report the crystal structures for a fragment of Lck bearing its SH3 and SH2 domains, alone and in complex with a phosphotyrosyl peptide containing the sequence of the Lck C-terminal regulatory tail. The latter complex represents the regulatory apparatus of Lck. The SH3-SH2 fragment forms similar dimers in both crystals, and the tail peptide binds at the intermolecular SH3/SH2 contact. The two structures show how an SH3 domain might recognize a specific target and suggest how dimerization could play a role in regulating Src-family kinases.

Two binding orientations for peptides to the Src SH3 domain: development of a general model for SH3-ligand interactions.

Science. 1994; 266: 1241-7

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Solution structures of two Src homology 3 (SH3) domain-ligand complexes have been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Each complex consists of the SH3 domain and a nine-residue proline-rich peptide selected from a large library of ligands prepared by combinatorial synthesis. The bound ligands adopt a left-handed polyproline type II (PPII) helix, although the amino to carboxyl directionalities of their helices are opposite. The peptide orientation is determined by a salt bridge formed by the terminal arginine residues of the ligands and the conserved aspartate-99 of the SH3 domain. Residues at positions 3, 4, 6, and 7 of both peptides also intercalate into the ligand-binding site; however, the respective proline and nonproline residues show exchanged binding positions in the two complexes. These structural results led to a model for the interactions of SH3 domains with proline-rich peptides that can be used to predict critical residues in complexes of unknown structure. The model was used to identify correctly both the binding orientation and the contact and noncontact residues of a peptide derived from the nucleotide exchange factor Sos in association with the amino-terminal SH3 domain of the adaptor protein Grb2.

An alternative to SH2 domains for binding tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins.

Science. 1994; 266: 1862-5

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Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind specifically to tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins that participate in signaling by growth factors and oncogenes. A protein domain was identified that bound specifically to the tyrosine-phosphorylated form of its target protein but differs from known SH2 sequences. Phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domains were found in two proteins: SHC, a protein implicated in signaling through Ras; and SCK, encoded by a previously uncharacterized gene. The PTB domain of SHC specifically bound to a tyrosine-phosphorylated 145-kilodalton protein. PTB domains are an alternative to SH2 domains for specifically recruiting tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins into signaling complexes and are likely to take part in signaling by many growth factors.

Crystal structures of peptide complexes of the amino-terminal SH2 domain of the Syp tyrosine phosphatase.

Structure. 1994; 2: 423-38

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BACKGROUND: Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind to phosphotyrosine residues in a sequence-specific manner, and thereby couple tyrosine phosphorylation to changes in the localization or catalytic activity of signal transducing molecules. Current understanding of SH2 specificity is based on the structures of SH2-peptide complexes of the closely-related Src and Lck tyrosine kinases. The tyrosine phosphatase Syp contains two SH2 domains that are relatively divergent from those of the tyrosine kinases, with distinct target specificities, and is thus well suited for structural studies aimed at extending our understanding of SH2 specificity. RESULTS: Crystal structures of the amino-terminal SH2 domain of Syp in separate complexes with two high-affinity peptides, in complex with a non-specific peptide and in the uncomplexed form have been determined at between 2 A and 3 A resolution. The structure of the SH2 domain and the mode of high-affinity peptide binding is essentially similar to that seen in the Src and Lck structures. However, the binding interface is more extensive in Syp. CONCLUSIONS: Most SH2 targets have hydrophobic residues at the third position following the phosphotyrosine, and the Syp structure confirms that the peptide is anchored to the SH2 surface by this residue and by the phosphotyrosine. In addition, the Syp structure has revealed that sequence specificity can extend across the five residues following the phosphotyrosine, and has shown how the SH2 domain's surface topography can be altered with resulting changes in specificity, while conserving the structure of the central core of the domain.

Structural determinants of peptide-binding orientation and of sequence specificity in SH3 domains.

Nature. 1994; 372: 375-9

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The Src-homology-3 (SH3) domains of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein SEM-5 and its human and Drosophila homologues, Grb2 and Drk (refs 1-4), bind proline-rich sequences found in the nucleotide-exchange factor Sos as part of their proposed function linking receptor tyrosine kinase activation to Ras activation. Here we report the crystal structure at 2.0 A resolution of the carboxy-terminal SH3 domain from SEM-5 complexed to the mSos-derived amino-acid sequence PPPVPPRRR. The peptide is found to bind in an orientation ('minus') that is precisely opposite to that observed previously ('plus' orientation) in other SH3-peptide complexes. This novel ability of peptide-recognition proteins to recognize peptides in two distinct modes may play an important role in the signalling specificity of pathways involving SH3 domains. Comparison of this structure with other SH3 complexes reveals how a conserved binding face can be used to recognize peptides in different orientations, and why the Sos peptide binds in this particular orientation.

Src-homology 3 (SH3) domains bind to proline-rich motifs in target proteins. We have determined high-resolution crystal structures of the complexes between the SH3 domains of Abl and Fyn tyrosine kinases, and two ten-residue proline-rich peptides derived from the SH3-binding proteins 3BP-1 and 3BP-2. The X-ray data show that the basic mode of binding of both proline-rich peptides is the same. Peptides are bound over their entire length and interact with three major sites on the SH3 molecules by both hydrogen-bonding and van der Waals contacts. Residues 4-10 of the peptide adopt the conformation of a left-handed polyproline helix type II. Binding of the proline at position 2 requires a kink at the non-proline position 3.

Nuclear magnetic resonance structure of an SH2 domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1 complexed with a high affinity binding peptide.

Cell. 1994; 77: 461-72

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The solution structure of the C-terminal SH2 domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), in complex with a phosphopeptide corresponding to its Tyr-1021 high affinity binding site on the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, has been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The topology of the SH2-phosphopeptide complex is similar to previously reported Src and Lck SH2 complexes. However, the binding site for residues C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine (pTyr) is an extended groove that contacts peptide residues at the +1 to +6 positions relative to the pTyr. This striking difference from Src and Lck reflects the fact that the PLC-gamma 1 complex involves binding of a phosphopeptide with predominantly hydrophobic residues C-terminal to the pTyr and therefore serves as a prototype for a second class of SH2-phosphopeptide interactions.

Orientation of peptide fragments from Sos proteins bound to the N-terminal SH3 domain of Grb2 determined by NMR spectroscopy.

Biochemistry. 1994; 33: 13531-9

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NMR spectroscopy has been used to characterize the protein-protein interactions between the mouse Grb2 (mGrb2) N-terminal SH3 domain complexed with a 15-residue peptide (SPLLPKLPP-KTYKRE) corresponding to residues 1264-1278 of the mouse Sos-2 (mSos-2) protein. Intermolecular interactions between the peptide and 13C-15N-labeled SH3 domain were identified in half-reverse-filtered 2D and 3D NOESY experiments. Assignments for the protons involved in interactions between the peptide and the SH3 domain were confirmed in a series of NOESY experiments using a set of peptides in which different leucine positions were fully deuterated. The peptide ligand-binding site of the mGrb2 N-terminal SH3 domain is defined by the side chains of specific aromatic residues (Tyr7, Phe9, Trp36, Tyr52) that form two hydrophobic subsites contacting the side chains of the peptide Leu4 and Leu7 residues. An adjacent negatively charged subsite on the SH3 surface is likely to interact with the side chain of a basic residue at peptide position 10 that we show to be involved in binding. The peptide-binding site of the SH3 is characterized by large perturbations of amide chemical shifts when the peptide is added to the SH3 domain. The mGrb2 N-terminal SH3 domain structure in the complex is well-defined (backbone RMSD of 0.56 +/- 0.21 calculated over the backbone N, C alpha, and C atoms of residues 1-54). The structure of the peptide in the complex is less well-defined but displays a distinct orientation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pleckstrin, the major protein kinase C substrate of platelets, contains domains of about 100 amino acids at the amino and carboxy termini that have been found in a number of proteins, including serine/threonine kinases, GTPase-activating proteins, phospholipases and cytoskeletal proteins. These conserved sequences, termed pleckstrin-homology (PH) domains, are thought to be involved in signal transduction. But the details of the function and binding partners of the PH domains have not been characterized. Here we report the solution structure of the N-terminal pleckstrin-homology domain of pleckstrin determined using heteronuclear three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure consists of an up-and-down beta-barrel of seven antiparallel beta-strands and a C-terminal amphiphilic alpha-helix that caps one end of the barrel. The overall topology of the domain is similar to that of the retinol-binding protein family of structures.

Solution structure and ligand-binding site of the SH3 domain of the p85 alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Cell. 1993; 73: 813-22

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SH3 domains are found in proteins associated with receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction complexes. The solution structure of the SH3 domain of the 85 kd regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is shown to be a compact beta barrel consisting of five beta strands arranged in two beta sheets of three and two strands. The structure is similar to that of chicken brain alpha spectrin but represents a distinct class of SH3 domain, with an insertion between the second and third beta strands that may influence binding specificity. 1H chemical shift changes induced by complex formation with a synthetic peptide derived from the SH3-binding protein dynamin, together with amino acid sequence comparisons, suggest that the ligand-binding site consists of a hydrophobic surface flanked by two charged loops.

Recognition of a high-affinity phosphotyrosyl peptide by the Src homology-2 domain of p56lck.

Nature. 1993; 362: 87-91

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The Src homology-2 (SH2) domains are modules of about 100 amino-acid residues that are found in many intracellular signal-transduction proteins. They bind phosphotyrosine-containing sequences with high affinity and specificity, recognizing phosphotyrosine in the context of the immediately adjacent polypeptide sequence. The protein p56lck (Lck) is a Src-like, lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase. A phosphopeptide library screen has recently been used to deduce an 'optimal' binding sequence for the Lck SH2 domain. There is selectivity for the residues Glu, Glu and Ile in the three positions C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine. An 11-residue phosphopeptide derived from the hamster polyoma middle-T antigen, EPQpYEEIPIYL, binds with an approximately 1 nM dissociation constant to the Lck SH2 (ref. 17), an affinity equivalent to that of the tightest known SH2-phosphopeptide complex. We report here the high-resolution crystallographic analysis of the Lck SH2 domain in complex with this phosphopeptide. Recent crystallographically derived structures of the Src SH2 domain in complex with low-affinity peptides, which do not contain the EEI consensus, and NMR-derived structures of unliganded Abl (ref. 19) and p85 (ref. 20) SH2 domains have revealed the conserved fold of the SH2 domain and the properties of a phosphotyrosine binding pocket. Our high-affinity complex shows the presence of a second pocket for the residue (pY + 3) three positions C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine (pY). The peptide is anchored by insertion of the pY and pY + 3 side chains into their pockets and by a network of hydrogen bonds to the peptide main chain. In the low-affinity phosphopeptide/Src complexes, the pY + 3 residues do not insert into the homologous binding pocket and the peptide main chain remains displaced from the surface of the domain.

SH3 (Src homology 3) domains are found in many signaling proteins and appear to function as binding modules for cytoplasmic target proteins. The solution structure of the SH3 domain of human phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) was determined by two-dimensional 1H NMR analysis. This SH3 domain is composed of eight antiparallel beta strands consisting of two successive "Greek key" motifs, which form a barrel-like structure. The conserved aliphatic and aromatic residues form a hydrophobic pocket on the molecular surface, and the conserved carboxylic residues are localized to the periphery. The hydrophobic pocket may serve as a binding site for target proteins. Analysis of the slowly exchanging amide protons by NMR measurements indicates that despite containing a high content of beta structure, the SH3 domain of PLC-gamma is flexible.

Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, which are found in many proteins involved in intracellular signal transduction, mediate specific protein-protein interactions. The three-dimensional structure of the SH3 domain in the p85 subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) has been determined by multidimensional NMR methods. The molecule consists of four short helices, two beta turns, and two antiparallel beta sheets. The beta sheets are highly similar to corresponding regions in the SH3 domain of the tyrosine kinase Src, even though the sequence identity of the two domains is low. There is a unique 15 amino acid insert in PI3K that contains three short helices. There are substantial differences in the identity of the amino acids that make up the receptor site of SH3 domains. The results suggest that while the overall structures of the binding sites in the PI3K and Src SH3 domains are similar, their ligand binding properties may differ.

Crystal structure of the SH3 domain in human Fyn; comparison of the three-dimensional structures of SH3 domains in tyrosine kinases and spectrin.

EMBO J. 1993; 12: 2617-24

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The Src-homology 3 (SH3) region is a protein domain consisting of approximately 60 residues. It occurs in a large number of eukaryotic proteins involved in signal transduction, cell polarization and membrane--cytoskeleton interactions. The function is unknown, but it is probably involved in specific protein--protein interactions. Here we report the crystal structure of the SH3 domain of Fyn (a Src family tyrosine kinase) at 1.9 A resolution. The crystals have two SH3 molecules per asymmetric unit. These two Fyn SH3 domains are not related by a local twofold axis. The crystal structures of spectrin and Fyn SH3 domains as well as the solution structure of the Src SH3 domain show that these all have the same basic fold. A protein domain which has the same topology as SH3 is present in the prokaryotic regulatory enzyme BirA. The comparison between the crystal structures of Fyn and spectrin SH3 domains shows that a conserved surface patch, consisting mainly of aromatic residues, is flanked by two hairpin-like loops (residues 94-104 and 114-118 in Fyn). These loops are different in tyrosine kinase and spectrin SH3 domains. They could modulate the binding properties of the aromatic surface.

Binding of a high affinity phosphotyrosyl peptide to the Src SH2 domain: crystal structures of the complexed and peptide-free forms.

Cell. 1993; 72: 779-90

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The crystal structure of the Src SH2 domain complexed with a high affinity 11-residue phosphopeptide has been determined at 2.7 A resolution by X-ray diffraction. The peptide binds in an extended conformation and makes primary interactions with the SH2 domain at six central residues: PQ(pY)EEI. The phosphotyrosine and the isoleucine are tightly bound by two well-defined pockets on the protein surface, resulting in a complex that resembles a two-pronged plug engaging a two-holed socket. The glutamate residues are in solvent-exposed environments in the vicinity of basic side chains of the SH2 domain, and the two N-terminal residues cap the phosphotyrosine-binding site. The crystal structure of Src SH2 in the absence of peptide has been determined at 2.5 A resolution, and comparison with the structure of the high affinity complex reveals only localized and relatively small changes.

Structure of an SH2 domain of the p85 alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase.

Nature. 1992; 358: 684-7

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Receptor protein-tyrosine kinases, through phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues, generate high-affinity binding sites which direct assembly of multienzyme signalling complexes. Many of these signalling proteins, including phospholipase C gamma, GTPase-activating protein and phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase, contain src-homology 2 (SH2) domains, which bind with high affinity and specificity to tyrosine-phosphorylated sequences. The critical role played by SH2 domains in signalling has been highlighted by recent studies showing that mutation of specific phosphorylation sites on the platelet-derived growth factor receptor impair its association with phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase, preventing growth factor-induced mitogenesis. Here we report the solution structure of an isolated SH2 domain from the 85K regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase, determined using multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure is characterized by a central region of beta-sheet flanked by two alpha-helices, with a highly flexible loop close to functionally important residues previously identified by site-directed mutagenesis.

The Src-homologous SH3 domain is a small domain present in a large number of proteins that are involved in signal transduction, such as the Src protein tyrosine kinase, or in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions, but the function of SH3 is still unknown (reviewed in refs 1-3). Here we report the three-dimensional structure at 1.8 A resolution of the SH3 domain of the cytoskeletal protein spectrin expressed in Escherichia coli. The domain is a compact beta-barrel made of five antiparallel beta-strands. The amino acids that are conserved in the SH3 sequences are located close to each other on one side of the molecule. This surface is rich in aromatic and carboxylic amino acids, and is distal to the region of the molecule where the N and C termini reside and where SH3 inserts into the alpha-spectrin chain. We suggest that a protein ligand binds to this conserved surface of SH3.

SH2 regions are protein motifs capable of binding target protein sequences that contain a phosphotyrosine. The solution structure of the abl SH2 product, a protein of 109 residues and 12.1 kd, has been determined by multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is a compact spherical domain with a pair of three-stranded antiparallel beta sheets and a C-terminal alpha helix enclosing the hydrophobic core. Three arginines project from a short N-terminal alpha helix and one beta sheet into the putative phosphotyrosine-binding site, which lies on a face distal from the termini. Comparison with other SH2 sequences supports a common global fold and mode of phosphotyrosine binding for this family.

Three-dimensional structures of complexes of the SH2 domain of the v-src oncogene product with two phosphotyrosyl peptides have been determined by X-ray crystallography at resolutions of 1.5 and 2.0 A, respectively. A central antiparallel beta-sheet in the structure is flanked by two alpha-helices, with peptide binding mediated by the sheet, intervening loops and one of the helices. The specific recognition of phosphotyrosine involves amino-aromatic interactions between lysine and arginine side chains and the ring system in addition to hydrogen-bonding interactions with the phosphate.

Solution structure of the SH3 domain of Src and identification of its ligand-binding site.

Science. 1992; 258: 1665-8

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The Src homology 3 (SH3) region is a protein domain of 55 to 75 amino acids found in many cytoplasmic proteins, including those that participate in signal transduction pathways. The solution structure of the SH3 domain of the tyrosine kinase Src was determined by multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The molecule is composed of two short three-stranded anti-parallel beta sheets packed together at approximately right angles. Studies of the SH3 domain bound to proline-rich peptide ligands revealed a hydrophobic binding site on the surface of the protein that is lined with the side chains of conserved aromatic amino acids.

Numerous oncogenes have been isolated from acutely transforming retroviruses. To date, the products of these viral oncogenes have been protein kinases, nuclear proteins, growth factors, or GTP-binding proteins. We have cloned the previously uncharacterized avian sarcoma virus CT10 and sequenced its genome. This virus encodes a protein, p47gag-crk, that has blocks of sequence similarity to the amino-terminal, non-catalytic region of the non-receptor class of tyrosine kinases. In addition, the structure of p47gag-crk has striking similarity to a 180-amino acid region of bovine brain phospholipase C. Biochemical data suggest that p47gag-crk activates one or several endogenous tyrosine kinases.

Sequence similarity of phospholipase C with the non-catalytic region of src.

Nature. 1988; 332: 269-72

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The production of the second messenger molecules diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is mediated by activated phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes. Here we report the cloning of a bovine brain complementary DNA encoding an enzyme PLC-148 that is characterized by calcium-dependent and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity when expressed in mammalian cells. Bovine brain messenger RNA contains a 7.5-kilobase transcript corresponding to the isolated cDNA; a related transcript of the same size is present in mRNA from some but not all human cell lines tested. Southern blot analysis of the bovine genome indicated that one or possibly two genes hybridize to the cloned PLC-148 cDNA. There is a striking sequence similarity between specific regions of PLC-148 and the non-catalytic domain of the non-receptor tyrosine kinases. The newly characterized crk transforming gene of the avian sarcoma virus CT10 also contains extensive sequence similarities with PLC-148.

Proteins encoded by oncogenes such as v-fps/fes, v-src, v-yes, v-abl, and v-fgr are cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases which, unlike transmembrane receptors, are localized to the inside of the cell. These proteins possess two contiguous regions of sequence identity: a C-terminal catalytic domain of 260 residues with homology to other tyrosine-specific and serine-threonine-specific protein kinases, and a unique domain of approximately 100 residues which is located N terminal to the kinase region and is absent from kinases that span the plasma membrane. In-frame linker insertion mutations in Fujinami avian sarcoma virus which introduced dipeptide insertions into the most stringently conserved segment of this N-terminal domain in P130gag-fps impaired the ability of Fujinami avian sarcoma virus to transform rat-2 cells. The P130gag-fps proteins encoded by these transformation-defective mutants were deficient in protein-tyrosine kinase activity in rat cells. However v-fps polypeptides derived from the mutant Fujinami avian sarcoma virus genomes and expressed in Escherichia coli as trpE-v-fps fusion proteins displayed essentially wild-type enzymatic activity, even though they contained the mutated sites. Deletion of the N-terminal domain from wild-type and mutant v-fps bacterial proteins had little effect on autophosphorylating activity. The conserved N-terminal domain of P130gag-fps is therefore not required for catalytic activity, but can profoundly influence the adjacent kinase region. The presence of this noncatalytic domain in all known cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases of higher and lower eucaryotes argues for an important biological function. The relative inactivity of the mutant proteins in rat-2 cells compared with bacteria suggests that the noncatalytic domain may direct specific interactions of the enzymatic region with cellular components that regulate or mediate tyrosine kinase function.

Disease (disease genes where sequence variants are found in this domain)

This information is based on mapping of SMART genomic protein database to KEGG orthologous groups. Percentage points are related to the number of proteins with SH2 domain which could be assigned to a KEGG orthologous group, and not all proteins containing SH2 domain. Please note that proteins can be included in multiple pathways, ie. the numbers above will not always add up to 100%.